Abies amabilis

The tree is a large evergreen conifer growing to , exceptionally tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to , exceptionally . The bark on younger trees is light grey, thin and covered with resin blisters. On older trees, it darkens and develops scales and furrows. The leaves are needle-like, flattened, long and wide by thick, dark green above, Similar species Pacific silver fir is very closely related to A. mariesii (Maries' fir) from Japan, which is distinguished by its slightly shorter leaves, being long, and smaller cones, which are long. ==Etymology==

The species name is Latin for 'lovely'. == Distribution and ecology ==

The species is native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, occurring in the Pacific Coast Ranges and the Cascade Range from the extreme southeast of Alaska, through western British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, to the extreme northwest of California. It grows from sea level to in the north of the range, and to in the south of the range. Populations on the east slope of the Cascades are confined to elevations above in Washington and in Oregon. It is always found in temperate rainforests with relatively high precipitation and cool, humid summers. Growing in dense stands, it prospers in shade and snow. == Uses ==

Indigenous Nations, including the Nuxalk, Haisla, and Kitasoo, used A. amabilis for medicinal purposes. In addition to medicinal uses, hardened pitch of the plant was sometimes chewed for pleasure by the Ditidaht Peoples. The foliage has an attractive scent and was admired for its scent long before the arrival of European settlers in its native range. The Ditidaht brought boughs into their homes as an air freshener, whereas Nlakaʼpamux peoples boiled boughs to create unique plant-based hair perfumes. The wood is soft and not very strong; settlers thus tended to use this species for paper making, packing crates, and other cheap construction work. The lumber is often paired with that of western hemlock. Seeds were not brought to England for cultivation until the 19th century. David Douglas first transported seed abroad in 1825. Today, the tree is sometimes planted as an ornamental in large parks, though its requirement for cool, humid summers limits its optimal areas; successful growth away from its native range is restricted to areas like western Scotland and southern New Zealand. Silver Fir is sometimes used for Christmas decoration, including Christmas trees. ==References==